Catalogue description Folios 32-34. Letter from Thomas Day, Clerk to the Guardians of the Bromsgrove Poor Law...

Folios 32-34. Letter from Thomas Day, Clerk to the Guardians of the Bromsgrove Poor Law Union, to the Poor Law Commission. During the last fortnight, the board of guardians have deemed it necessary to give a little temporary relief to able body persons, including nailors and agricultural labourers, in the attached list because they were destitute, except in the case of Taplin whose earnings were not sufficient to support him and his family. The guardians trust the Commissioners will sanction such relief.

The nail trade in Bromsgrove, Belbroughton and Clent is still very depressed and all kinds of labour are very scarce (except needlemaking at Redditch).

Bromsgrove has recently obtained £65 from the manufacturer's relief committee towards finding employment for the able bodied out of work. Enclosed is a printed extract of the Union Accounts.

Attachment: Table giving the age, cause of seeking relief and the amount of relief given for: Richard Tandford and Mary Tandford, James Richards and Mary Richards, Thomas Lamb and Hannah Lamb, Thomas Moreton and Hannah Moreton, William Binner and Mary Binner, Job Hall and Elizabeth Hall, Jeremia Read and Alice Read, Thomas Waldron and Ann Waldron, Thomas Hill and Elizabeth Hill, Abram Devenport and Mary Devenport, Sarah James, Benjamin Fletcher, William Dipple, James Guest and Elizabeth Guest, Benjamin Crump and Elizabeth Crump, John Taplin and Elizabeth Taplin, Isaac Davis and Mary Davis, George Pain and Ann Pain, James Atkins and Ann Atkins, William Surman and Ann Surman, William Atkins and Ann Atkins and Thomas Mariss and Ann Mariss.

Further attachment: extract from the quarterly abstract of the Bromsgrove Union accounts for the quarter to 24 Dec 1842. The parishes covered are Alvechurch, Bentley Pauncefoot, Belbroughton, Bromsgrove, Clent, Coston Hacket, Frankley, Hagley, Hunnington, Pedmore, agleyHRedditch, Romsley, Stoke Prior, Tutnell and Cobley, and Webheath

Annotated: the last return received dated 30 January states the number of inmates as 245 which is an unusual number at Bromsgrove but the maximum is 300 to 320. The distress amongst the nailors is not in doubt but by sanctioning relief already, the guardians should be reminded that the Labour Test Order is still in operation and the Commissioners feel reluctant sanctioning relief to able bodied persons without employment being found for them and while there is still room in the workhouse. Also request the present state of the workhouse.

Paper Number: 1892/B/1843.

Poor Law Union Number 526.

Counties: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.